Vending machine



Feb. 20, 1940. F, MAYHELD 2,190,879

VENDING MACHINE Filed June 2, 1938 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 2 Fig. 7. 1 %.2.

1 $2 9 9 6/1 :15 72 44,212: as $156 ""f' w'w" I Ii I I I I 76 V t i 27. 27 I AV W 1.5

b- 1940- H. F. MAYFIELID 7 VENDING MACHINE Fild June 2; 1938 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 7 Harry E j Patented Feb. 20, 19 40] UNITED STATES VENDING MACHINE,

Mayfield, Anaersons. c. Application June 2, 1938, .Serial No. 211,437 s olaims. (ohm-n7) My invention is a maohine for -vendi-ngor dispensing articles having grommets, such as towels.

An important object or the inv ention is to provide a, machine of the above mentionedcharacter which will accurately vend only one groinmet-carried article at a time, andrender it impossible for more than one article to be vended,

during one operation ofthe machine.

.10 A further object of the invention is to provide a machine of the above mentioned character which is'relatively simple in constr'uctionandreliable in operation. l

A further object of the invention is to provide 15 a rod orthe like for supporting, a number. of

the grommets, withmeans carried by the rod-tor controlling the discharge of the grommets from the rod.

A further object of the invention is to provide 'means for removably supporting onefend'oi the grommet carrying rod so that the rod mayhe readily loaded with the grommets} Other objects and advantages of the inven tion will be apparent during the course of the 55 following description; 1

In the accompanying drawings forming a part of this application and in which likenumerals are employed to designate like parts throughout the same,

'3 Figure 1 is a perspective view of a vending mait chine embodying my invention,

Figure 2 is a vertical section taken on line 2-2 ofFigurel, i Figure 3 is a planview of the grommet carrying rodand operating means,

Figure 4 is a transverse section taken online 4-4 of Figure 3, i

Figure 5 is a vertical section taken on lined- 5 of Figure 3,

Figure 6 is a longitudinal section taken on lineS-B OfFigure 3, I Q t Figure 7 is an enlarged side elevation of the grommet carrying rod, parts in verticalsection and parts in elevation,

i Figure 8 is a vertical sectiontaken on line'B-J of Figure 7, Figure 9 is a transverse section taken online 9-9 of Figure 6, l i 1v Figure 10 is a perspective view of a grommet carrying rod and associated elementspahd,

Figure 5a is. a perspective view of one end of a link, parts brokenaway. U i

In the drawings, wherein forfithe purposew'of illustration is shown a preferred embodiment of i 1 my invention theniimeral*l 5=designates a verpreferably opposite the opening til.

through the opening 20.

solder or the like. tudinal movement of the bar or rack bar dt in tical casing, having a front door it, to afiord accessto the interior of the casing, andhinged at H. I This door maybe heldin the closed position by a lock 48 or the like. The door it -is provided in its upp'er portion with an opening or window l9,-through which the individual towel is -passed, when vended, i and a lower opening 2% through-which theused towel may be returned into the lower portion of the casing.

A generally horizontal frame 2i is supported To Arranged ing 23, iorl removably receiving a grommet-car ryingelement or rod 2%, adapted to be clamped within the opening 2.3 by a set screw The rod or element 24- is inclined and extends downwardly toward its free end. The rod E lis arranged transversely within the casing iii and its forward or free end is disposed inwardly of and The rod 24 is therefore rigidly supported, in use, and is provided at its forward end with a loop 26, having '2 connectionwith a chain or flexible element 2?, extending outwardly through the opening it and then inwardly through the opening it and attached to thebottom of the casing iii, as shown at 28. There is sufiicient slack in this chain or 3' flexible element to permit of the proper use 01? the towel befo-re it is returned into the casing, The element or rodhi has a longitudinal groove or opening 29, for receiving a reciprocatory bar or rack bar '3il,1havingrecesses 3| formed therein,receiving transverse guides 32, rigidly secured to the rod 2 3, by

These guides limit the longiopposite directions. The bar 31! is provided at i itsrear end with a lateral extension or headtZ",

carrying a pin 33, arranged to one side'of a pin 34', rigidly attached to the rear end of the rod 2 A-conipressible coilspring 35 surrounds the pins33 and 3d and shifts thebar 3G to the ex- F4 treme rear or retracted position. At its forward 'end, the rod 24 has a vertical opening 3'5, formed therein, within which is mounted a vertical dispensing elementflnthe form of a wheel or gear tLfrotatably mounted upon, a horizontal trans- :5 verse pin 38, attached tothe rod 24. This wheel or gear has a portion'of, its periphery provided withteeth 39, in permanent meshwith teethw,

n the grommet next to the leading grommet, since periphery formed plain and is provided with a notch 39'. i

The rod 24 slidably receives thereon grommets 4|, suitably attached to towels 42 or like articles to be vended. These grommets are of such a thickness or size that only one of them can enter gear 31 moves from the end of its clockwise or' loading position, it prevents the discharge of it projects radially beyond the rod 24.

Means are provided to move the bar 30 forwardly, to discharge or release the leading grommet, comprising ahorizontal lever 4|, pivotally supported at one end, as shown at 42'. Thefree end of this lever is forked, as shown at 43, to receive therebetween therear end 'ofa link 44. A pin 45 is rigidly. attached to the lever 4| and has one end extending. into a slot 46 in the link 44 while its upper end projects beyond the lever 4| and has connection with a retractile coil spring 41, attached to a pin 48,.rigidly secured to the link 44.- The numeral 49 designates a stationary stop to limit the rearward movement of the link 44. When the link 44 is moved forwardly, in the direction of its arrow, it pulls ,the lever 4| forwardly, through the medium of the spring 4?, which, is stiffer than the spring 35. The forward end of the link 44- is slidably, supported in a guide 50, arranged beneath, and rigidly secured to'a horizontally swinging operating lever 5|, pivotally supported at one end at 52. This operating lever has an extension 53, extending to the exterior of the machine, and slidable in a guide 54. The operating lever is shifted .to

the rear or starting position by a retractile coil spring 55, secured thereto by a pin 56, and secured at its rear end to a stationary pin 51. The lever 5| is provided with a transverse group of ratchet teeth 58, to be engaged by a'pivoted dog ,59, the arrangementbeing such that the teeth 58 will trip over the dog 59 when the lever 5| is swung forwardly. The lever will therefore be held against returning movement after it has been shifted part Way from its rear position, but when the lever has been shifted to the extreme forward position, the group of ratchet teeth 58 will clear the dog 59, and when the lever is then angularly arranged extension 62 at its free end.

This extension is disposed in the path of travel of the pin 56. The lever Bil has a transverse strap 63, rigidly secured thereto, as shown at 64, and this strap has a'down-turned end 65, engaging the edge of the link 44.

The operating lever 5| has a coin receiving element or lug 66, provided with a vertical coin slot 61, also passing through the lower face vof the lever 5|. The lug 66 has an upwardly flaring recess 68, to receive the coin and conduct it to the slot 61. A stationary coin guide shute 69 is secured to the top of the casing I5, and has its lower end arranged over the recess 68, when the lever 5| is in the rearmost position. The

- link 44 has its forward end extending beneath and across the lever 5|, Figure 5, and the link 44 is provided with a coin receiving pocket 10 and the link also carries a coin supporting lip l l, arranged beneath the same and rigidly attached thereto. The link 44 is swungto the left, Figure 3, to the limit of its movement by a retractile coil spring 12, and is swung to the right by the downturned portion 65.

The grommets 4| are arranged upon the inclined rod, 24, and gravitate downwardly upon the rod toward its free end, but are aided in this movement by a weight 13, supported by a roller '14, traveling upon the inclined rod 24. The

"weightis' preferably provided upon its front side with the designation Empty so that when the last towel is vended this signal will be given. The operation of the machine is as follows: With the parts arranged as shown in Figures 3 and 6, the wheel or gear 31 is projecting radiallyfbeyond the rod 24, since the bar 38 is in the rearmost position. This wheel or element thereby positively prevents the leading grommet from passing off of the rod 24. The coin is inserted into the shute 69 and is conducted into the coin slot Bland enters the pocket N1 of the link 44 and is supported in the opening Hi bythe lipior element ll, so that it cannot drop out of the slot 61. The lever 5| is now swung manually clockwise or forwardly, Figure 3, and this movement of the lever is transmitted to the link 44 through the medium of the coin, the link 44 now moving to the left, Figure 3. When the link 44 moves to the left, the lever 4| swings in the same direction, and this lever 4|f acts upon the head 32" and moves the bar30 to the left. This movement of the bar 30 causes the wheel or gear 31 to turn from the normal position, Figure 6, clockwise to the position shown in Figure 7, so

that the notch 39 assumes the rearmost position. Theleading grommet 4| now enters the notch, but the next grommet cannot enter it. When the lever 5| is swung to the left, the pin 56 carried thereby, contacts with they angular extension 62, thereby swinging shifting lever 69 to which will turn the wheel or gear 31 counterclockwise to the position shown in Figure 6, so that the notch 39' will free the grommet therein. The lever 5|, when shifted to the end of its forward movement, and released, will be returned to the rearmost position by the action of spring 55.

It is thus seen that manually operated; means has been employed to move the lever 4|, for shifting the bar 30 forwardly. The invention is in no sense restricted to the use of manual meansfor this purpose, as any suitable means, electrical or otherwise, may be used to shift the bar '56 forwardly. This means may or may not be coin controlled.

It is to be understood that the form of my invention herewith shown and described is to be taken as a preferred example of the same and that various changes in the shape, size and arrangement of parts may be resorted to, without departing from the spirit of my invention or the scope of the subjoined claims.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

-- 1. In a machine for vending towels or the like having grommets, a rod to receive the grommets thereon, a wheel pivotally mounted upon the rod and extending radially therebeyond and having I a notch to receive each of the grommets in succession and also having gear teeth, a bar exi tending longitudinally of the rod and having gear teeth engaging the gear teeth of the wheel, and means to move the rod longitudinally.

2. In a machine for vending towels or the like having grommets, a rod to receive the grommets thereon, a Wheel mounted upon the rod extending radially beyond the same and having a notch to receive each of the grommets in succession and also having gear teeth a reciprocatory bar extending longitudinally of the rodand having gear teeth to engage the first named gear teeth, a springto move the bar in one direction, and means to move the bar in an opposite direction.

3. In a machine for vending towels or the like having grommets, a rod to receive the grommets thereon and having a transverse opening and a longitudinal groove, a wheel pivotally mountedwithin the transverse opening and extending radially beyond the rod and having a notch to receive each of the grommets in succession and having gear teeth, a reciprocatory bar mounted within the longitudinal groove and having gear teeth to engage the first named gear teeth, means to limit the longitudinal movement of the bar, a

spring to move the bar in one direction, and

means to move the bar in an opposite direction.

4. In a machine for vending towels or the like having grommets, a rod to receive the grommets thereon, an element having means for controlling the passage of the grommets longitudinally of the rod and having gear teeth, means to pivotally mount the element upon the rod, a bar extending longitudinally of the rod and having gear teeth to engage the first named gear teeth, and means to move the bar longitudinally.

6. In a machine for vending towels or the like having grommets, a rod to receive the grommets thereon and having a longitudinal groove, a pivoted element having means controlling the passage of the grommets longitudinally of the rod, said means including a part adapted to extend radially beyond the rod, and means topivotally support said element and retain the same adjacent to said rod, and means including a rack and pinion to turn the pivoted element, said rack being arranged within the longitudinal groove.

'7. In a machine for vending towels or the like having grommets, a rod to receive the grommets thereon, said rod being provided near its free end with a. recess, said rod also having a longitudinally extending passage, an element mounted within the recess having means for controlling the movement of grommets from the rod, said means including a part adapted to project radially beyond the rod, gear teeth connected with the element, a bar mounted to move longitudinally within the passage and held thereby against turning movement upon its longitudinal axis, said bar having gear teeth to engage the first named gear teeth, and means to move the bar longitudinally.

8. In a machine for vending towels or the like having grommets, a relatively stationary rod to receive the grommets thereon, an element having means for controlling the passage of the grommets longitudinally of the rod, means for mounting the element upon the relatively stationary rod and holding it against bodily movement longitudinally of the rod and permitting the same to move transversely of the rod, means to move the element transversely of the rod for releasing eachof the grommetsv in succession including a reciprocatory bar movable longitudinally of the rod, and means to hold the bar against turning movement upon its longitudinal axis and to reciprocate the same. i

' f HARRY F. MAYFJELD. 

